Aquatic Ecosystems
Think About It (not on notes) We call our planet Earth, yet nearly three-fourths of Earth s surface is covered with water. Despite the vital roles aquatic ecosystems play in the biosphere, many of these ecosystems are only partly understood.
Daily Objectives - Describe the factors that affect aquatic ecosystems. - Describe and compare the distinct ocean zones that make up marine ecosystems.
Aquatic Ecosystems The limiting factors in water biomes are: Amount of salt (salinity) Amount of dissolved oxygen Sunlight
2 Types of Water Biomes Freshwater Rivers and Streams Lakes and Ponds Saltwater Ocean Estuaries Seashores (tidal areas)
Freshwater Biomes Freshwater contains little or no salt, so it has a LOW salinity. Flowing freshwater = rivers and streams Still Freshwater = lakes and ponds
Flowing Freshwater Streams The faster a stream flows the greater the amount of dissolved oxygen in it. Faster water flows = oxygen
Flowing Freshwater Streams The fish that live in streams are adapted to fast moving water
Flowing Freshwater Rivers Water moves slower in a river and debris settles on the bottom. Because of this, rivers tend to have more nutrients and less dissolved oxygen. nutrients and oxygen
Rivers Flowing Freshwater
Freshwater Ponds Small, shallow bodies of water Sunlight penetrates all the way to the bottom Most are completely filled with plant material Very high amount of nutrients
Ponds Freshwater
Freshwater Lakes Larger and deeper than ponds Plant growth is limited to the shoreline Sunlight does NOT penetrate to the bottom= no plants after a certain depth!
Lakes Freshwater
Plankton Plankton are microscopic algae, plants, and other organisms that float on the surface of water biomes. They need sunlight to survive.
Plankton Phytoplankton are important producers in water biomes. They are the first step in many aquatic food chains
Wetlands A wetland is an ecosystem in which water either covers the soil or is present at or near the surface of the soil for at least part of the year.
Wetlands The water in a wetland may be flowing or standing. It may contain water that is.. salty, fresh or brackish. Brackish means that it is a mixture of fresh and salt water.
Wetland Types Types of freshwater wetlands include: bogs, marshes and swamps.
Bogs Bogs: These are wetlands that are dominated by, mosses usually in depressions where water collects. This water is often very. acidic
Marshes Marshes are shallow wetlands along rivers. Marshes often contain..cattails, rushes, and other tall grasses.
Swamps Water moves slowly through a swamp. The presence of trees and shrubs distinguishes a swamp from a marsh. Swamps look like flooded forests.
Saltwater Biomes About 95% of the water on Earth has a high concentration of salt. (High salinity)
Saltwater Biomes Estuaries (Wetlands) Area where a river meets an ocean Mix of salt and freshwater Located near coastlines, border land Extremely fertile Nutrient levels are higher than both salt and freshwater
Saltwater Biomes Seashores Tides have a huge influence on life here Intertidal Zone - Portion of the shoreline that is covered with water at high tide and exposed to the air at low tide.
Intertidal Zones Can be sandy or rocky Small fish, clams, crabs, other mussels are trapped in the tidal pools during low tide.
Intertidal Zones
Saltwater Biomes Oceans Can be divided into 2 main life zones 1. Photic zone- Sunlight penetrates 2. Aphotic zone- NO sunlight
Intertidal zone Neritic zone Ocean Zones Oceanic zone 0 m 200 m Photic zone Continental shelf Benthic zone Aphotic zone 2000-6000 m Hydrothermal vents
Photic Zone - Above 100 meters - Sunlight penetrates - Plant life and animal life is abundant
Aphotic Zone Sunlight DOES NOT penetrate There are no plants Animal life is highly specialized
Aphotic Zone Many of the creatures of the deep ocean have a special adaptation known as bioluminescence